Full transcript of Jim Crane’s rebuttal to Forbes article

Astros owner Jim Crane had an intimate press briefing with two reporters before the Astros began a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

Here’s the full transcript of Crane’s interview discussing Forbes’ claim that the Astros will be the most profitable team in baseball history.

Crane: “It’s not even close to being accurate. We don’t release numbers. Baseball doesn’t release numbers and so they put some assumptions that were totally inaccurate and came up with the article along the way. Basically at the back end of that thing is we’re still working a plan. Our commitment… what it doesn’t have in there is what we’ve spent on the draft and a lot of other things we’re doing to rebuild the team. … When we took over the team, as you guys know, we were the worst big team and worst minor league system. And we’ve improved our minor league system so hopefully one or two by the end of this year and that’s going to give us a nucleus. One of the comments in there is ridiculous; ‘You could spend much that much and get the starting lineup in the National League (All-Stars).’ First, you couldn’t sign all of those guys. They’re trying to sensationalize the situation, and it’s totally inaccurate and we’re sticking with our plan and our plan is to develop the players. Once we have a nucleus of players we’re starting to see develop, we’ll step in with the right resources to make it happen. Our TV is still hanging in the wind. We have to get full coverage on that soon. That’s really the story. Nothing more on that.”

On his frustrations:

Crane: “Let’s be clear. We’re not happy where we’re at. We want to win. I bought the team not to try to mislead the fans. The fans are extremely important and we want to make sure we have a good product on the field. We felt very strongly the only way to do that is get one of the best minor league systems built. Once we have that built, we’ll compliment that very quickly. The decision was made this year that we weren’t going to add a lot and I think that was the right decision. Nobody likes losing these games the way we’ve been losing them late, but that’s quickly remedied as we move into next year. We’re focused on winning, and once we have the product fixed and team fixed. … While I’m on point, you’ll never see this minor league system slip to the worst. It will never happen. And so that’s…when you look at the good models that have been built with the Braves and Cardinals, they have a nucleus of players in their system they developed and they complemented it with some free agents when you need them. That’s exactly what we want to do, and we’re in position to do very soon .We’re starting to see some of these guys. We want to get there as fast as we can, but we can’t money whip it. We have to stay focused on the plan. It’s a little frustrating, but it goes with the territory. We’re here for the long run. We’re not going anywhere.”

Do you expect to make a profit this year?

Crane: “We don’t know where we’re at right now because the TV deal is not performing the way we want. That’s still in flux. Everyone knows the subscribers aren’t there that we want from the other networks. Until we get that, that thing is not going to do well. We’re focused on getting it completed. We hoped we had it completed by now. Something will happen before next season for us. Hopefully it will happen for the Rockets here soon. We don’t know where our bottom line is going to end up, and that’s what makes that article very ridiculous. If you just looked at the numbers they reference on TV, they’re just totally inaccurate, totally inaccurate. Not even close.”

On whether Forbes contacted the team:

Crane: “They called and I don’t know who they called. They didn’t call me. I didn’t hear about it until this morning when the story broke. We would have loved to have the opportunity to get that framed better, but it came out where it was an absolutely absurd article. I mean, I wish we had that kind of money. That would be fine.”

On ballpark numbers:

Crane: “We don’t want to get down to the details, but just taking the headline on the story ‘The most profitable team ever,’ anyone that can do an envelope P and L, which most people can, which is cost and revenue, wouldn’t get you there. We notified them the story is way off. I don’t think they did their homework and made some assumptions that were totally wrong.”

On his decision to address the media at U.S. Cellular Field:

Crane: “I felt it was important. I was in town and going to the game. I wasn’t planning on doing media press conference, but we felt it was important to let our fans know that’s not accurate and we’re going to build a good product for Houston.”

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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The Astros have only one player on their roster who makes more than $1 million (Erik Bedard at $1.15 million). The following are the big salaries they have dropped in the Jim Crane era.

The Astros have only one player on their roster who makes more than $1 million (Erik Bedard at $1.15 million). The following are the big salaries they have dropped in the Jim Crane era.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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Carlos Lee
2012: $19 million

Carlos Lee
2012: $19 million

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Brett Myers
2012: $12 million

Brett Myers
2012: $12 million

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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Brandon Lyon
2012: $5.5 million

Brandon Lyon
2012: $5.5 million

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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J.A. Happ
2012: $2.35 million

J.A. Happ
2012: $2.35 million

Photo: Cody Duty / Chronicle

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Bud Norris
2013: $3 million

Bud Norris
2013: $3 million

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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Carlos Pena
2013: $2.9 million

Carlos Pena
2013: $2.9 million

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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Jose Veras
2013: $1.85 million

Jose Veras
2013: $1.85 million

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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Wesley Wright
2013: $1.15 million

Wesley Wright
2013: $1.15 million

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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Note: The team traded Wandy Rodriguez ($5 million) in 2012 but are responsible for his salary.

Note: The team traded Wandy Rodriguez ($5 million) in 2012 but are responsible for his salary.